Photo: Trump takes oath with family bible
Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president, promising a “revolution of common sense” and aiming to reverse the actions of his predecessor. He plans to implement executive orders to clamp down on border crossings, increase fossil fuel development, and end diversity and inclusion programs. Trump emphasized restoring trust in government and reclaiming sovereignty.
His inauguration marked a political comeback, overcoming impeachments, criminal indictments, and assassination attempts. Trump aims to bring quick changes, including curtailing immigration, enacting tariffs, and rolling back climate and social initiatives.
He also plans to pardon participants of the January 6th riot and end birthright citizenship. The inauguration saw a mix of political, business, and technology leaders, with Trump pledging to expand U.S. territory and pursue space exploration.
Trump’s swearing-in ceremony was moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda due to frigid weather, and the inaugural parade was replaced by an event at a downtown arena.
Vice President JD Vance was sworn in first, followed by Trump, who used both a family bible and the one used by President Abraham Lincoln at his 1861 inauguration. Billionaires and tech titans, including Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook, Sundar Pichai, and Elon Musk, were present at the ceremony. Musk is expected to lead efforts to slash spending and federal employees.
Trump began the day with a prayer service at St. John’s Episcopal Church and was later greeted by outgoing President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden for the customary tea and coffee reception. This marked a stark departure from four years ago when Trump refused to acknowledge Biden’s victory or attend his inauguration.
Trump’s inauguration realized a political comeback without precedent in American history. Four years ago, he was voted out of the White House during an economic collapse caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump denied his defeat and tried to cling to power, directing his supporters to march on the Capitol, sparking a riot that interrupted the country’s tradition of the peaceful transfer of power.
Despite criminal cases and assassination attempts, Trump never lost his grip on the Republican Party and harnessed voters’ exasperation with inflation and illegal immigration. He used his inaugural address to repeat his claims that he was targeted by political prosecutions and promised to begin “fair, equal and impartial justice.”
Trump is the first person convicted of a felony to serve as president. He pledged to “preserve, protect and defend” the Constitution from the same spot overrun by his supporters on January 6, 2021. He plans to swiftly reinstitute his 2020 playbook to crack down on the southern border, limit the number of refugees entering the U.S., and deploy the military. He’s expected to take additional actions, such as attempting to end birthright citizenship automatically bestowed on people born in the U.S.
Trump will also sign an executive order aimed at ending diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within the federal government. The order will direct federal agencies to coordinate with the White House on identifying and terminating DEI programs.
Conservatives have long criticised programs that give preference based on race, gender, and sexual orientation, arguing they violate the Constitution. Other orders are expected to allow more oil and gas drilling by rolling back Biden-era policies on domestic energy production and rescinding Biden’s recent directive on artificial intelligence.
More changes are planned for the federal workforce. Trump wants to unwind DEI programs, require employees to return to the office, and lay the groundwork to reduce staff. With control of Congress, Republicans are working alongside the incoming administration on legislation to further roll back Biden’s policies and institute their priorities.
Trump’s “America First” foreign policy is being watched warily at home and abroad as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine enters its third year, and a fragile ceasefire appears to be holding in Gaza after more than 15 months of war between Israel and Hamas.
Trump said he would lead a government that “expands our territory,” referencing his goals of acquiring Greenland from Denmark and restoring U.S. control of the Panama Canal. He also said he would “pursue our manifest destiny into the stars,” launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on Mars, a key goal of Musk.
The head of TikTok, the popular Chinese-owned social media app deemed a national security risk by the U.S., was also present in the Rotunda. Trump has promised to lift an effective ban on TikTok through one of many executive orders expected to be issued on Monday as the new president attempts to show quick progress.
